yummy cupcake:
Copywriting usually involves writing copy for websites, but it can include writing for actual catalogs, too. Other things it might include are writing press releases and sales letters letters. Essentially, it’s promotional writing.
As anyone who’s ever bought anything via Internet has noticed, any website – be it a bookstore, clothing store, furniture store, someone selling health products, you name it – has a description for each product they sell. Often, aside from the individual descriptions, the products are divided into broader categories, which also need copy. Although online stores need the most copywriting, organizations need copy for their websites as well. Essentially, there are two things copywriting entails: getting people to the website (that’s where SEO – search engine optimization comes in), and once they’re there, convincing them to buy, donate, whatever. It may sound boring on paper, but the truth is that there’s a lot of creativity involved.
Taking a proofreading course is a good step in the right direction as is a course in editing (they’re not the same thing). A technical writing course is probably a must (full disclosure: I work in copywriting from my home, but when I started they just trained you on the job. Today you probably need some courses before anyone will hire you). Also, since the writing is for the web, you need to know something about SEO – the more you know, the better, so a course in that subject is a major plus.
I hope that information helps you. If you have any more questions, feel free to post them; I will IYH check to see, and will try to answer you as best I can.
Again, lots of hatzlachah!